Half-Hearted

Chapter 5: Don't Bother

"Thomas? Tommy? Where are you?"

Jacqueline got up and headed downstairs. "Thomas? Are you down here?"

"Oh, hello dear. Thomas is just finishing up in the bathroom."

"Okay, thanks Mrs. O'Brien."

Jacqueline went to wait outside the bathroom for Thomas. She did have to go get ready to take Dylan to the bus and then get to her bus stop herself, but she wanted to thank Thomas about last night, and every night that he has helped her, especially that one night 2 years ago. Then, the bathroom door opened, and out walked Thomas, wearing his regular jeans, his light brown hair all messy, and as he ran his hand through his hair, he looked up at Jacqueline with an intense, deep look as he stared into her chocolate coloured eyes, and she into his light gray eyes. They held eye contact for a good 10 seconds when she broke and said, "Hey. Why aren't you wearing a shirt?"

"Oh, that. Well, I didn't want to wake you, so I grabbed my jeans that were on the floor and not my shirt because they are all under the bed and on your side."

"Okay, that makes sense. Well, I've gotta get back home, get myself and Dylan ready for school, avoid my parents, and... wait. What did you say?"

"I said that all my shirts are all under the bed and on your side that you were sleeping on. Why?"

"Then Tommy, please explain to me why I can see almost half of your shirts next to where your jeans were."

"Those shirts are all dirty. All my clean ones are under the bed and on your side that you were sleeping on."

"Okay. I'm gonna go. See ya, Tommy. I'll say hi to Adam for you. And, thanks for everything you have done for me. Especially last night and that one night 2 years ago."

"You're welcome. Okay, go get ready now. Bye."

Jacqueline ran back over to her house and very quietly entered through the back door, and walked up the stairs to her room. She got dressed, went back downstairs, ate breakfast, brushed her teeth, made her and Dylan's lunch, and went to go pack her bag and help Dylan get ready for school. She knocked on Dylan's door very quietly because she didn't know if he was awake yet.

"Come in."

"Hey Dylan. Wow. You're dressed already."

"Yeah. You weren't here to help me so I did it by myself."

"Your lunch is downstairs."

"I already made my lunch. Go away. You left me here with mom and dad all by myself and you didn't even tell me where you were going."

"Well, I don't have to tell you everything about my personal life, now do I?"

"No, you don't. Just tell me where you were last night and I will be able to forgive you."

"Later. I have to get ready for school and take you to your bus stop."

"Don't bother. I'm 8 years old, I don't need someone to walk me to my bus stop. Good bye."

And with that, he pushed past Jacqueline, ran downstairs, and out the front door, slamming it behind him. Jacqueline got her bag, lunch, put her Vans back on, and left for the bus. When she got to school, a surprise was at her locker.

"Hey Jacqueline."

"Hey Adam. I missed you."

"I missed you too."

He kissed her just as the rest of the football team was coming up behind them. They looked and sounded ridiculous when they whistled and cheered.

"Hey look at that! Little Adam here got himself a girlfriend. Who would have thought that would happen? And after one night! Did you go home with her?"

"No, Liam. He just helped me out with an art project and drove me home. End of story. Leave him alone."

"Okay, okay. We'll leave you two lovebirds alone. But tell me one thing. Do you two actually like each other or is this just a prank?"

"Would I do this if this was 'just a prank'?"

Jacqueline kissed Adam by pulling him into her lips and Adam responded by slipping his arms around her. They kissed for almost 15 seconds when they pulled away and saw the rest of the football team in shock. Jacqueline said goodbye to them and gave Adam one last peck on the cheek before she left for Visual Arts. As she was leaving, she turned around and winked at the whole football team, which left them stunned.

They day went by quickly, and before Jacqueline knew it, it was time for her to leave school and go meet Adam for their first official date. She texted him: Hey. I've gotta go home and do my homework. When I'm done, I'm gonna get ready for our date.

Really? I was just hoping we could go back to my house and do our homework there.

Okay. I'll meet you at your locker.

See you soon.

"Hey. How was your day?"

"Boring without you. Come on. Let's go."

"Where is your house?"

"372 Diamond Avenue. You ready, my queen?"

"I certainly am, my king."

They drove for about 5 minutes while talking about how their day went.

"Welcome to my humble abode."

Adam's house was 2 stories with a white picket fence and rose gardens. Jacqueline fell completely in love with the house and couldn't wait to see what lay beyond the red-gray coloured exterior walls.

"I know, I know. I'm not rich, my parents just wanted it to look like this. Sorry."

"Let's go. I want to meet your parents, see your room. Come on."

There was a long pause, but Adam said,

"Okay. Let's go."